Interactive comparative display of information

ABSTRACT

A system for a computer implemented interactive comparative display of information organizes a visual screen display to a user in such a way that the user is able to efficiently select information content, be presented with topical associations relating to that content, and readily compare different information content from a single display. The information content represented by each selectable result indicator is comparable with the information content represented by other selectable result indicators, wherein the information content is of a same type of information content but from a different perspective, vantage point, or provides a different alternative. A user may navigate to a particular segment of information content, and then be presented with a string of topically related segments, as well as with one or more connecting categories of information, which may otherwise not have been readily apparent to the particular selected segment, but for the display system and method.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of,International Application No. PCT/US2013/028222, filed Feb. 28, 2013,which claimed priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/606,148, filed Mar. 2, 2012, for all subject mattercommon. The disclosures of said applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computer implemented display suitablefor presenting information to a user, and more particularly to a visualdisplay having an arrangement of selectable indicators having varioustopical associations with information content in a manner that enablescomparisons of information content being displayed, the position orarrangement of the indicators being based on a perspective, vantagepoint, or alternative, of the information content being compared.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Over time, increasing amounts of information have been stored oncomputers. With so much information being stored, there have beennumerous solutions for providing users with the ability to searchthrough the information and locate desired portions of the information.The field of computer science has provided data structures and databasetechnology. The Internet is searchable using numerous different searchengines, including Google™, Yahoo®, and others. Furthermore, newscompanies, such as CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, et al., place vast amounts ofnews stories online, using different search engine technologies toenable users to find particular stories and content. Likewise, onlineshopping companies, such as Amazon.com offer consumers the ability tosearch and locate items for purchase using various search enginecapabilities. Most websites operated by companies, organizations,entities, or even individuals, provide countless methods for searchingand displaying information to users.

However, with all of the above mechanisms for managing information, theeventual display of that information has shortcomings in its ability tocorrelate and present the information in a logical way that illustratestopical associations between the information content in a mannerenabling users to efficiently navigate through the resultinginformation, leveraging those associations. Further, the ability forusers to compare information content from different sources is extremelydifficult and cumbersome, requiring the user to conduct their ownindependent multiple searches to find related subject matter. Thepresent invention addresses these shortcomings.

SUMMARY

There is a need for greater and more comparative access to informationcontent. The present invention is directed toward solutions to addressthis and other needs, in addition to having other desirablecharacteristics that will be appreciated by one of skill in the art uponreading the present specification.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a computerimplemented interactive comparative display of information includes afirst plurality of subject indicators all associated with a firstcategory of subject matter. The first plurality of subject indicatorsinclude a selected subject indicator representing a first subjectfalling within the first category of subject matter, and at least oneselectable subject indicator representing at least a second subjectfalling within the first category of subject matter. The display furtherincludes a first selectable result indicator representing informationcontent that is topically associated with the first subject, and atleast a second selectable result indicator representing informationcontent that is different from the information content represented bythe first selectable result indicator and is also topically associatedwith the first subject. The information content represented by the firstselectable result indicator is comparable with the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator in such a way thatresults in formation of the comparative display of information.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the informationcontent represented by the first selectable result indicator iscomparable with the information content represented by the secondselectable result indicator if the information content represented bythe first selectable result indicator is of a same type of informationcontent but from a different perspective from the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator. Optionally, theinformation content represented by the first selectable result indicatoris comparable with the information content represented by the secondselectable result indicator if the information content represented bythe first selectable result indicator is of a same type of informationcontent but from a different vantage point than the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator. Furtheroptionally, the information content represented by the first selectableresult indicator is comparable with the information content representedby the second selectable result indicator if the information contentrepresented by the first selectable result indicator is of a same typeof information content but is an alternative to the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the display canfurther include more than two selectable result indicators eachrepresenting information content that is comparable with the informationcontent of each of the other selectable result indicators. Theinformation content represented by the first selectable result indicatorcan originate from a different source than the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the informationcontent represented by the first selectable result indicator canoriginate from a different source than the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator, and each sourcecan be affiliated with a perspective of a range of perspectives sortablealong a spectrum of a topical continuum for a topic. The informationcontent represented by the first selectable result indicator can have anaffiliated perspective falling within a predetermined first portion ofthe spectrum and is positioned in a first portion in the display, andthe second selectable result indicator can have an affiliatedperspective falling within a predetermined second non-overlappingportion of the spectrum and is positioned in a second non-overlappingportion in the display. The predetermined first portion of the spectrumcan correspond to a first political party and the predetermined secondnon-overlapping portion of the spectrum corresponds to a secondpolitical party. The first and second selectable result indicators canbe positioned in an order in the display, and the order can be the sameas an order of affiliated perspectives of sources of the first andsecond selectable result indicators along the spectrum. There can be aplurality of selectable result indicators in addition to the first andsecond selectable result indicators, each representing informationcontent, and those selectable result indicators having affiliatedperspectives of the range of perspectives grouped together in apredetermined portion of the spectrum are displayed proximal each otherin the display, while those selectable result indicators havingaffiliated perspectives of the range of perspectives not groupedtogether in a predetermined common portion of the spectrum are displayeddistal each other. The proximal distances and the distal distances arerelative to each other in such a way that proximal distances are smallerthan distal distances.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, there can be aplurality of selectable result indicators in addition to the first andsecond selectable result indicators, each representing informationcontent, and the display can further include one or more user inputtools for enabling users to submit input about one or more of theplurality of selectable result indicators.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, there can be aplurality of selectable result indicators in addition to the first andsecond selectable result indicators, each representing informationcontent, and the display can further include one or more user inputtools for enabling users to submit input about one or more of theplurality of selectable result indicators, wherein a position of atleast one of the plurality of selectable to result indicators can bedetermined at least partially based on received user input. Anaffiliated perspective of the users can be based at least in part on oneor more of a user profile, a user tag, and user metadata. The receiveduser input can include one or more of user rankings, user ratings, userassigned weights, or user comments.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the display canfurther include one or more user input indicators each presenting inputsubmitted by a user about a selectable result indicator of the firstselectable result indicator and the at least a second selectable resultindicator.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the display canfurther include a first user comment submitted by a first user about thefirst selectable result indicator, the first user being affiliated witha first perspective of a plurality of perspectives that lie in apredetermined portion of a spectrum also containing an affiliatedperspective of the first selectable result indicator. The first usercomment can have a position in the display that is determined at leastpartially based on user input associated with the first user comment,and any user input that is used to determine the position of the firstuser comment can include user input received from one or more usersaffiliated with a perspective of a range of perspectives lying within apredetermined portion of a spectrum.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a related categoryindicator can be displayed in conjunction with the selected subjectindicator, the related category indicator representing a secondplurality of subject indicators all associated with a second category ofsubject matter. The second plurality of subject indicators can includethe selected subject indicator. The related category indicator can beselectable, and selection of the related category indicator can causedisplay of the second plurality of subject indicators. The relatedcategory indicator can be selectable, and selection of the relatedcategory indicator can cause the second plurality of subject indicatorsto replace the first plurality of subject indicators in the display.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the first pluralityof subject indicators, the first selectable result indicator, and therelated category indicator can all be presented in a single display.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the first pluralityof subject indicators can include one or more of event indicators,travel information indicators, hotel information indicators, recipeindicators, food indicators, movie indicators, or sports indicators. Thefirst selectable result indicator and the at least a second selectableresult indicator can include a link pointing to a network locationholding the corresponding content information. Each of the firstplurality of subject indicators can be displayed as a graphicallyrotatably selectable dial. The information content of the firstselectable result indicator and the information content of the at leasta second selectable result indicator can be associated with tags.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the display canfurther include social media tools. The social media tools can includeone or more of comments, ratings, rankings, likes, dislikes, chat,messaging, voting buttons, or polling buttons.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the first pluralityof subject indicators, selected subject indicator, at least oneselectable subject indicator, first selectable result indicator, and atleast a second selectable result indicator can all be displayedsimultaneously in the same display.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a payment module,or a transaction module can be provided. One or more prediction buttonscan each be presented in conjunction with the first selectable resultindicator, the at least a second selectable result indicator, or acombination thereof. The first plurality of subject indicators can bearranged in a string configuration. Selection of one of the at least oneselectable subject indicator can cause the first and at least a secondselectable result indicators to be replaced. The first and at least asecond selectable result indicators can include one or more of apublication date and a source identifier.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a position of eachof the first selectable result indicator representing informationcontent and the at least a second selectable result indicator in thedisplay relative to each other is based on an affiliated perspective ofthe information content.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a position of eachof the first selectable result indicator representing informationcontent and the at least a second selectable result indicator in thedisplay relative to each other is based on an affiliated vantage pointof the information content.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a position of eachof the first selectable result indicator representing informationcontent and the at least a second selectable result indicator in thedisplay relative to each other is based on an affiliated alternative ofthe information content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other characteristics of the present invention will be morefully understood by reference to the following detailed description inconjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an example embodiment of an interactive comparative display,according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an example embodiment of an interactive comparative displayincluding a dial tool, according to further embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an example embodiment of an interactive comparative displayincluding one or more related tracks buttons, according to embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an example embodiment of an interactive comparative displayproviding one or more comparative analysis tools, according toembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an example embodiment of an interactive comparative displayadapted for presenting news information, according to embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is an example embodiment of an interactive comparative displayadapted for presenting travel information, according to embodiments ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an example computing device forimplementing the interactive comparative display of FIGS. 1 through 6,according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention relates to aninteractive comparative display of information (e.g., which can beimplemented as a graphical user interface). The interactive comparativedisplay provides tracks that are each associated with a specificcategory. Situated along a track is one or a plurality of subjectindicators each representing subject matter that is topically orotherwise associated with the category of the track. When a user selectsone of the subject indicators, a plurality of result indicators arepresented in the interactive comparative display 10. Each resultindicator represents resulting information content (e.g., which can bein video, audio, picture, textual, and other formats). The resultindicators can include links embedded therein that, when clicked by auser, navigate the user's browser client to a URL or other networklocation hosting the requested resulting information content. Notably,users can be enabled to browse through a plurality of different tracksall including a different plurality of subject indicators but allsharing at least one subject indicator. In this manner, users areenabled to explore new tracks of information, e.g., on the basis oftopical, or other, overlap between the categories of different tracks.In illustrative embodiments, some or all of the plurality of differentsubject indicators presented in conjunction with a particular subjectindicator provide a different perspective, vantage point, or alternativeon the subject matter represented by the selected subject indicator.

Thus, the interactive comparative display can provide users with theability to more easily compare and explore associations amongcategories. The interactive comparative display further can provideusers with access to new comparisons and types of comparisons of thevarious perspectives, vantage points, and/or alternatives of differentinstances of resulting information content.

FIGS. 1 through 7, wherein like parts are designated by like referencenumerals throughout, illustrate example embodiments of an interactiveelectronic display of information according to the present invention.Although the present invention will be described with reference to theexample embodiments illustrated in the figures, it should be understoodthat many alternative forms can embody the present invention. One ofordinary skill in the art will additionally appreciate different ways toalter the parameters of the embodiments disclosed, such as the size,shape, or type of elements or materials, in a manner still in keepingwith the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts an electronic interactive comparative display 10 ofinformation according to an example embodiment of the present invention.The interactive comparative display 10 is generated by at least oneprocessor (e.g., as a plurality of user interface elements, as would beappreciated by one of skill in the art) and presented on least onepresentation component of a computing device, as will be described ingreater detail herein. The interactive comparative display 10 includesone of a plurality of tracks 12, which in the example embodiment of FIG.1 is depicted as a straight line. Each track 12 is associated with aspecific category. The category of the track 12 can be any type ofcategory, including, as non-limiting examples, a news category (e.g.,“Iran”), a sports category (e.g., “New England Patriots Postseason2012”), an editorial category (e.g., “Fashion Recap of the Oscars”), acategory of items being reviewed (e.g., a category of movies, a categoryof books, a category of products, a category of foods, a category ofrecipes, etc.), a specific company (e.g., “Pfizer”), a category oftravel, a category of science, a category of technology, a category ofservices, custom-defined categories by users or by third parties, or anyother category. In short, the category is some definable collection ofinformation. The category of each track 12 imposes a topical criterionupon information to be presented in conjunction with the track 12.Stated differently, each track 12 provides a mechanism for presentinginformation topically, or otherwise, associated with (e.g., within thetopical bounds of, or somehow related to) the category of the track 12.Optionally, the track 12 can form or be associated with a scale orcontinuum (e.g., a numeric scale). For example, the track 12 can definea time scale, a monetary scale, a ranking scale, and any other orderedor comparative scale. In such embodiments, positions along the track 12can delineate, e.g., specific times, specific prices, specific dollaramounts, specific ranks, etc.

Each track 12 can include one or more subject indicators 14. Eachsubject indicator 14 represents a particular subject matter that istopically, or otherwise, associated with (e.g., that falls within thetopical bounds of, or is somehow related to) the category of the track12. As non-limiting examples, the subject indicators 14 can includeevent indicators representing events (e.g., news events, sports events,historical events, future events, events as described by actions ordesires, or events as defined by a particular reference point ofinformation, or the like), flight indicators representing flights (e.g.,flights corresponding to a defined interval of departure times, etc.),recipe indicators representing recipes (e.g., “grilled steak,” “fish andchips,” “roasted garlic hummus,” etc.), movie indicators (e.g., “LittleMermaid,” “Shrek,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Snow White and the SevenDwarves,” etc.), a movie type indicator (e.g., “action,” “drama,”“comedy,” “romantic film,” etc.), and any other subject indicators 14representing a subject. Optionally, in embodiments where the track 12forms or is associated with a scale, each subject indicator 14 of thescalar track 12 can be associated with a value on the scale (anassociated scalar value). For any such subject indicator 14, theassociated scalar value can be used to determine the position of thatsubject indicator 14 on the scalar track 12. Stated differently, thedisplay coordinates of a subject indicator 14 relative to the displaycoordinates of a scalar track 12 can be determined based on a scalarvalue associated with that subject indicator 14.

In some illustrative embodiments, all of the subject indicators 14included in any single track 12 are of the same type. For example, insome embodiments, the interactive comparative display 10 is adapted topresent news information (e.g., news articles) and all of the subjectindicators 14 included in any such news track 12 specifically are eventindicators, each of which represents a specific news event (e.g., “U.S.Invades Iraq,” “Obama Elected President of the U.S.,” “Nuclear PowerPlant Melts Down in Japan,” etc.). In some other embodiments adapted forpresenting travel information, the track 12 can be a travel track thatincludes the following subject indicators 14: a flight indicatorrepresenting a grouping of potential flights (e.g., grouped based ondeparture time), a rental car indicator representing a grouping ofpotential rental car reservations (e.g., grouped based on pick-up time),and a hotel room indicator representing a grouping of potential hotelrooms (e.g., based on check-in time). It should be appreciated that thetype of subject indicators 14 included in any single track 12 is in notlimited to the example provided herein. Rather, the particular choice ofsubject indicators 14 can depend on the intended applications of theinteractive comparative display 10. All alternative types and choices ofsubject indicators 14 are contemplated within the scope of the presentinvention.

The subject indicators 14 on each track 12 are selectable. When asubject indicator 14 is selected, a plurality of result indicators 16that are topically, or otherwise, associated with the selected subjectindicator 14 are presented within the interactive comparative display10. In illustrative embodiments, the plurality of result indicators 16are hidden from view unless the subject indicator 14 with which they areassociated becomes selected, at which point the plurality of resultindicators 16 become visible in the interactive comparative display 10.The result indicators 16 are presented in conjunction with the selectedsubject indicator 14 in such a way as to indicate association betweenthe result indicators 16 and the selected subject indicator 14. Eachresult indicator 16 represents resulting information content thatpertains to the subject represented by the selected subject indicator14. More specifically, in illustrative embodiments, the resultindicators 16 represent digital content narrating (e.g., in writtentextual form or any other form) information about the subject matterrepresented by the selected subject indicator 14. For example, in someillustrative embodiments adapted for presenting news information, theselected subject indicator 14 is a news event indicator representing aparticular news event and each result indicator 16 associated with theselected news event indicator is an article indicator representing apublished news article (e.g., accessible online) that describes the newsevent.

Each of the result indicators 16 can be selectable and can include alink pointing to a network location (e.g., a URL) hosting the particularresulting information content (e.g., the particular news article) beingrepresented. Alternatively or additionally to including a link, theresult indicators 16 can be selectable such that selection thereofcauses the represented resulting information content to be presented inan information content pane within the interactive comparative display10. It should be appreciated that these examples for presenting orcausing information content to be presented are provided for purposes ofillustration and do not limit embodiments of the present invention. Oneof skill in the art will appreciate a variety of other ways to presentassociated information content (e.g., in digital format) in response toselection of a result indicator 16 upon reading the presentspecification. All such modifications, alternatives, and additions arecontemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that in many instances, each subjectindicator 14 (or just some of the subject indicators 14) will beincluded in numerous different tracks 12 due to that subject indicator14 representing a particular subject matter that happens to beassociated with more than one category of tracks 12. In fact, in someimplementations, the categories of tracks 12 can be constructed anddefined in such a way as to promote overlap in the various subjectsassociated therewith. For embodiments implemented to present newsinformation, a few non-limiting examples of such categories withoverlapping associated subject matter can include: “Barak Obama,” “2008U.S. Presidential Race,” and “Democratic Party.” Each such category canserve as the category of a news track 12. In such implementations wherethere is overlap between subject matter (e.g., news events) associatedwith the various categories of the tracks 12 (e.g., news tracks 12), itis likely that each subject indicator 14 will be included in more thanone track 12. For example, the news event “Obama wins the 2008 U.S.presidential election” can be included in a “Barak Obama” news track 12,in a “2008 U.S. Presidential Race” news track 12, and in a “DemocraticParty” news track 12. One of skill in the art will appreciate that theparticular categories selected for the tracks 12 will vary depending onthe intended application and the type of information content beingpresented. The present invention is not limited to any specific exampleprovided herein. Rather, all modifications, alternatives, and additionsare contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, the interactive comparative display 10 can be configured toenable users to browse through multiple tracks 12 that share particularsubject matter (as represented by a common subject indicator 14). Morespecifically, illustrative embodiments of the present invention providethat the interactive comparative display 10 includes one or more displayfeatures that allow users to browse through all tracks 12 that includethe selected subject indicator 14. In some such illustrative embodimentsthat enable browsing between related tracks 12, only one track 12 ispresented in the interactive comparative display 10 in view mode at anygiven time. As utilized herein, “view mode” generally refers to a modeof operation in which a track 12 is activated for interactive viewing inthe manner described herein (e.g., in a manner enabling the presentationof result indicators 16 based on user selection of a subject indicator14, etc.). In yet other embodiments of the present invention, however,it may be possible for the interactive comparative display 10 to providemultiple tracks 12 simultaneously in view mode. One of skill in the artwill appreciate a variety of ways to implement interactive viewing ofthe tracks 12 upon reading the present specification. All suchmodifications, alternatives, and additions are contemplated within thescope of the present invention.

One example embodiment will now be described that provides users withbrowsing capability between related tracks 12 all sharing common subjectmatter (as represented in the interactive comparative display 10 by acommon subject indicator 14). In the example embodiment, only one track12 is in view mode at any given time. The browsing capability is enabledby one or a plurality of related track indicators 18. Each related trackindicator 18 represents a different track 12 (different from the track12 currently in view mode) that includes a different plurality ofsubject indicators 14 (different from the subject indicators 14 of thetrack 12 currently in view mode). The different plurality of subjectindicators 14 includes the selected subject indicator 14 of the track 12currently in view mode. The related track indicators 18 are presented inthe interactive comparative display 10 in conjunction with the selectedsubject indicator 14, e.g., such that the related track indicators 18remain hidden until the associated subject indicator 14 becomesselected, at which point the related track indicators 18 become visiblein the interactive comparative display 10 along with the selectedsubject indicator 14. For example, the related track indicators 18 canform a cascade behind the selected subject indicator 14, as depicted inFIG. 1. The related track indicators 18 are selectable, such thatselection of any one of the related track indicators 18 activates viewmode for the related track 12 represented by that related trackindicator 18. Activation of view mode for the related track 12represented by a related track indicator 18 can be implemented in anynumber of ways, including, for example, visual replacement of the track12 previously in view mode with the related 12 represented by theselected related track indicator 18. One of skill in the art willappreciate yet other ways to implement activation and deactivation ofview modes for various tracks 12 upon reading the present specification.All such alternatives, modifications, and additions are contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, in this manner as described above, the interactivecomparative display 10 can provide a convenient user interface for userexploration of various tracks 12 on the basis of subject matter overlapin the categories of those tracks 12, as defined to be linked by acommon/shared subject matter in those tracks 12. Selected subjectindicators effectively serve as a portal for enabling users to exploreand activate different tracks 12 having overlapping subject matter.

In illustrative embodiments, as a user browses through the relatedtracks 12, the subject matter being represented by the currentlyselected subject indicator 14 does not change. Nonetheless, it should beappreciated that the visual presentation of the currently selectedsubject indicator 14 can change as a user browses through the relatedtracks 12 (e.g., so long as the changes in the visual presentation ofthe currently selected subject indicator 14 do not change the subjectmatter that is being represented thereby). For example, in someembodiments, each related track indicator 18 possesses a differentcolor, such that each color effectively represents a different relatedtrack 12.

Alternatively or additionally to the related track indicators 18, eachsubject indicator 14 can form a graphical dial 20 once the subjectindicator 14 is selected by a user, as depicted in FIG. 2. The dial 20can be rotatable by the user within the interactive comparative display10 and optionally can include markers 22 (e.g., ticks) situated aroundits perimeter. Similar to the related track indicators 18, each marker22 likewise can represent a different track 12 (different from the track12 currently in view mode) that includes, among its different pluralityof subject indicators 14, the selected subject indicator 14 from thetrack 12 currently in view mode. Accordingly, in such embodiments, thetrack 12 that is presented in view mode in the interactive comparativedisplay 10 changes as a user turns the dial 20 to select differentmarkers 22. In such example embodiments, the interactive comparativedisplay 10 can be adapted to always present in view mode the track 12associated with the selected marker 22 on the dial 20.

It should be appreciated that the interactive comparative display 10 canbe configured to accept and respond to different types of user input,e.g., depending on the particular user device on which the interactivecomparative display 10 is presented. For example, if the user device isa traditional personal computer (PC) or laptop computer, the user inputcan include mouse movements, mouse clicks, etc. The dial 20 thus can beturned, e.g., by manipulating a mouse to move a cursor over the dial 20,clicking the mouse to engage the cursor with the dial 20, moving themouse in a rotational fashion to turn the dial 20. Such an interactionwith the interactive comparative display 10 can likewise be implementedby different user input on a different type of user device. For example,if the user device is a tablet computer having a multi-touch screenconfigured to receive a variety of different gestures, then the dial 20can be turned by the user touching the multi-touch screen with his/her afinger at a position where the dial 20 is located and moving his/herfinger in an arc to turn the dial 20. As yet another example, if theuser device is a smart phone device with an accelerometer or othersuitable motion detection mechanism included therein, then the dial 20can be turned by abruptly or sharply pivoting the smart phone device.One of skill in the art will appreciate that these examples of userinput for providing interactive capability with the interactivecomparative display 10 are illustrative and in no way limiting. Rather,all suitable alternative forms of user input are contemplated within thescope of the present invention.

In yet other embodiments (additionally or alternatively to utilizing therelated track indicators 18 or the dials 20), users are enabled tonavigate through tracks 12 linked by a shared subject matter byselecting related track buttons. For example, FIG. 3 depicts an exampleembodiment of the interactive comparative display 10 including andpresenting such related track buttons 24. For example, each relatedtrack button 24 can present a category associated with a different track12 (different from the track currently in view mode) that includes,among its different plurality of subject indicators 14, the selectedsubject indicator 14 of the track 12 currently in view mode. One ofskill in the art will appreciate yet other ways to implement browsingbetween related tracks 12 that are linked by a shared subject matter.All such alternatives, modifications, and additions are contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention.

In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the resultindicators 16 that are presented in conjunction with the selectedsubject indicator 14 depend not only on the subject indicator 14, butalso on the particular category of the track 12 that includes theselected subject indicator 14. Accordingly, in such illustrativeembodiments, as users browse through related tracks 12 linked by ashared subject matter (e.g., the subject matter represented by theselected subject indicator 14), the result indicators 16 will all changesince such browsing action will also change the category that isassociated with the track 12 currently in view mode. As such, theinteractive comparative display 10 optionally can include a plurality ofinactive result indicators 26 associated with each of the resultindicators 16. For each result indicator 16, each associated inactiveresult indicator 26 corresponds to one of the related track indicators18 and/or one of the markers 22 and/or one of the related track buttons24. Accordingly, the inactive result indicators 26 become active (e.g.,selectable to follow an embedded link) during browsing as a useractivates the corresponding related tracks 12. Each plurality ofinactive result indicators 26 can be presented in conjunction with itsassociated result indicator 16. For example, as depicted in FIG. 1, eachplurality of inactive result indicators 26 can form a cascade behind itsassociated result indicator 16.

Optionally, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, theinteractive comparative displays 10 are implemented in part using tags(e.g., metadata, meta elements, meta tags, labels, sub-tags, and anyother form or type of tag). For example, the interactive comparativedisplays 10 can be implemented by database(s) including: (a) a pluralityof entries each representing some resulting information content (each ofwhich represents, e.g., a news article presented on a news track 12 by anews indicator 14); (b) one or a plurality of tags associated with eachresulting information content entry in the database(s); (c) a pluralityof entries each representing a subject; and (d) one or a plurality oftags associated with each subject entry in the database(s). The tags onthe resulting information content entries in the database(s) can providecharacterizations about the resulting information content. Furthermore,the tags on the resulting information content entries can be used todetermine the graphical and UI associations between result indicators 16and subject indicators 14 in the interactive comparative display 10. Ingeneral, the tags on the resulting information content can includeconventional tags, as would be appreciated by those of skill in the art,or can include new types and categories of tags designed specificallyfor the purpose of facilitating use with the interactive comparativedisplay 10. Similarly, the tags on the subject matter entries in thedatabase(s) can include conventional and/or novel types and categoriesof tags and can provide characterizations of the subject matter entriesin the database(s) useful in facilitating operation of the interactivecomparative display 10. Tags on the subject matter entries thus canindicate one or more categories with which the subject matter entriesare topically, or otherwise, associated. The categories indicated insuch tags can be used to build tracks 12 in the interactive comparativedisplay 10 (e.g., in response to a user query that contains one or moreof the categories).

A few non-limiting examples of tags associated with the narrativecontent entries in the database(s) will now be described. In someembodiments adapted for presenting news information, the subjectindicators 14 are news event indicators each representing a news event,and the result indicators 16 are article indicators each representing anews article reporting on or otherwise covering one or more of the newsevents. In such embodiments, the resulting information content entriesin the database (e.g., the article entries) can be associated with tagsindicating an author or news source that published the article, tagsindicating political bias (e.g., of the author or the news source thatpublished the article), tags indicating whether the articles are “for”or “against” the subject/general proposition discussed by the authortherein, tags indicating a date of publication, and tags indicating oneor more news events that the article reports on (e.g., discusses,reports on, raises, reviews, criticizes, etc.), tags indicating a dateof publication, tags indicating values lying on a scale of the track 12,etc. These examples of tags are illustrative and do not limitembodiments of the present invention. Rather, one of skill in the artwill appreciate a variety of other tags that may be used upon readingthe present specification. All such alternatives, modifications, andadditions are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Tags associated with the resulting information content entries and/orthe subject matter entries generally can be generated in any one or moreof the following ways, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the artupon reading the present specification: automatically (e.g., all newsarticles originating from a particular author or news source areautomatically tagged as having a particular specific political bias),via crowdsourcing (e.g., among users interacting with the interactivecomparative display 10), and/or by system administrators (e.g., byoriginal publishers of the resulting information content).

Optionally, the tags can be used to enable a variety of additionalfeatures, according to further aspects of the present invention. Forexample, the tags can be used to enable users to query the database(s)(e.g., using a search bar that can be included in the interactivecomparative display 10, etc.) and thereby cause the interactivecomparative display 10 to generate tracks 12 based on user-submittedqueries (and optionally user-defined queries). Furthermore, some tags(e.g., indicating subject matter association with a particular category,subject, etc.) can be weighted to indicate the relevance of the taggedentry relative to the particular category, event, etc. in the tag. Suchrelevance weightings of the category tags on subject matter entries,subject tags on resulting information content entries, etc. can beuseful in determining which subject matter entries, resultinginformation content entries, etc. to present in the interactivecomparative display 10. For example, in some instances, the category ofa track 12 may be associated with more subjects than can visually fit onthe track 12 in the interactive comparative display 10. In suchinstances, the relevance weightings of the category tags on subjectmatter entries in the database(s) can be used to determine which subjectmatter entries associated with the category of the track 12 will berepresented in the interactive comparative display 10. As onenon-limiting example, the interactive comparative display 10 (and thecomputing system implementing the interactive comparative display 10)can be configured to present a subject indicator 14 in the interactivecomparative display 10 only for each of the N subject matter entrieswith the highest weighted associated category tags, where N is somepositive integer number. In some embodiments, the interactivecomparative display 10 includes one or more zooming tools (not shown)enabling users to adjust the number of subject indicators 14 beingpresented (and thus visible) in the interactive comparative display 10(e.g., thereby enabling users to adjust the value of N). As will bereadily appreciated by one of skill in the art, the size of the subjectindicators 14 can be variable and can depend on the number of subjectindicators 14 currently being presented in the interactive comparativedisplay 10.

In a similar manner, subject tags on resulting information contententries in the database(s) can be used, e.g., to select which of aplurality of appropriately tagged resulting information content entrieswhich should be presented in the interactive comparative display 10.Furthermore, the interactive comparative display 10 can include one ormore presentation modifier tools enabling users to adjust the number ofresult indicators 16 presented in the interactive comparative display10.

In some illustrative embodiments, the interactive comparative display 10includes one or more filter tools (not shown) for enabling users tofilter the result indicators 16 being displayed. For example, the filtertools can enable filtering of the result indicators 16 based on mediaformat (e.g., video, sound, image, text, etc.), narrative type (e.g.,editorial, reporting, satire, etc.), and any other suitable filter. Thefilter options can be based on characterizations by the tags. Forexample, in some embodiments adapted for presenting news information,users can be enabled to filter the result indicators 16 such that theinteractive comparative display 10 only presents, in a particular track12, result indicators 16 (e.g., article indicators) published by aparticular selected news source (e.g., CNN, FOX, NYTimes, etc.). Itshould be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention are notlimited to the specific examples of filters provided herein. Rather, oneof skill in the art will appreciate a variety of alternative and/oradditional types of filters that can be implemented using the filtertools. All such alternatives, modifications, and additions arecontemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the tags are used to position theresult indicators 16. For example, in embodiments adapted for presentingnews information, the result indicators 16 can be article indicatorsthat are positioned based on the political bias (e.g., politicalpersuasion, political leaning, etc.) of the author or publisher of thearticle. The narrative content information entries in the database(s)can be implemented, e.g., as article entries each representing anarticle about one or more news events. Article entries that are taggedas being published by politically left-leaning (liberal) news sourcescan be presented in the interactive comparative display 10 visually tothe left of the selected subject indicator 14. Article entries in thedatabase(s) tagged as being published by politically right-leaning(conservative) news sources can be presented in the interactivecomparative display 10 visually to the right of the selected subjectindicator 14. One of skill in the art will appreciate a variety of otherways to present the result indicators 16 in the interactive comparativedisplay 10 (color, size, etc.), e.g., on the basis of the same of othercharacterizations indicated by the tags. The present invention is notlimited to the specific examples provided herein. Rather, all suitablealternatives, modifications, and additions are contemplated within thescope of the present invention.

In other embodiments, instead or in addition to utilizing tags, theinteractive comparative display 10 can be implemented, e.g., by pullingspecific information from predefined fields in one or more web pages.For example, in some embodiments adapted for presenting travelinformation, flight information (e.g., departure/arrival times, flightnumbers, costs, remaining seats available, etc.) from web page(s) hostedby one or more third-party web servers can be extracted and presented bythe result indicators 16 (e.g., flight indicators, in this case). Insuch embodiments utilizing and presenting information from predefinedfields, use of additional structure (e.g., in the form of tags) oradditional categorization may not be necessary to provide user searchingcapability whereby tracks 12 are generated based on user-submitted (andoptionally user-defined) queries.

In some embodiments, the interactive comparative display 10 includessocial media tools enabling users to contribute and share certaininteractions (e.g., comments, ratings, rankings, “likes,” “dislikes,”etc.) with the interactive comparative display 10. For example, theinteractive comparative display 10 can include voting or polling buttonsenabling users to vote or be polled on their personal preferences andopinions toward particular tracks 12, particular subject indicators 14,particular result indicators 16, and/or the like. The voting or pollinginformation can be shared with other users via additional presentationfeatures (not shown) in the interactive comparative display 10.Furthermore, users can be enabled to comment, “like,” and/or “dislike”particular tracks 12, particular subject indicators 14, particularresult indicators 16, and/or the like. In some embodiments, feedbackfrom users received via the social media tools and/or otherpolling/voting/ranking tools can be utilized by the computing systemimplementing the interactive comparative display 10 to determine oradjust the weights, tags, etc. associated with the in the database(s).For example, the interactive comparative display 10 can present toolsenabling users to submit to the computing system subject matter linksbetween (a) categories of tracks 12 and subject matter of subjectindicators 14, (b) subject matter of subject indicators 14 and resultinginformation content of result indicators 16, categories of tracks 12 andresulting information content of result indicators 16, and the like. Inthis manner, the generation/refinement of weights, tags, etc. in thedatabase(s) can be crowdsourced to users viewing and interacting withthe interactive comparative display 10.

In some embodiments, the interactive comparative display 10 includestools (not shown) enabling users to perform comparative analysis ondifferent tracks 12. FIG. 4 depicts a screen shot showing such acomparative analysis. Subject indicators 14 on different tracks 12 areindicated in the interactive comparative display 10 as identical by acommon color. For example, users can be enabled to select two or moretracks 12 for comparison and submit the selection to the computer systemimplementing the interactive comparative display 10; as a result of sucha submission, the interactive comparative display 10 can present to theuser a comparison depicting one or more of: overlap in subjects betweenthe two or more selected tracks 12, overlap in resulting informationcontent between the two or more tracks 12, overlap in particular tagsbetween the two or more tracks 12, etc. Furthermore, users can beenabled to perform such comparative analyses by alternatively oradditionally selecting one or more subject indicators 14 and/or one ormore result indicators 16 for comparison. In such embodiments, based onsuch a selection and submission of subject indicators 14 and/or resultindicators 16, the interactive comparative display 10 can present to theuser tracks 12 sharing the subject matter represented by the selectedsubject indicators 14 and/or the resulting information contentrepresented by the selected result indicators 16. As yet furtherpotential comparative analysis tools enabled by the interactivecomparative display 10, users can be provided with an ability todetermine associations between different subjects. The associations canbe presented to users as a chain of related tracks 12, where subsequenttracks 12 in the chain are linked by at least one common/shared subject.One of skill in the art will appreciate yet other types of comparativeanalysis tools that can be enabled and presented to users in theinteractive comparative display 10 upon reading the presentspecification. All such alternatives are contemplated within the scopeof the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 5 depicts a screen shot of an example embodiment of the interactivecomparative display 10 according to the present invention adapted forpresenting news information. As depicted in FIG. 5, the interactivecomparative display 10 includes a news track 12 a in view mode. Thesubject indicators 14 can include, e.g., a plurality of event indicators14 a each representing a particular news event that occurred. The resultindicators 16 can include, e.g., a plurality of article indicators 16 a.As shown, one of the event indicators 14 a is selected. Thus, theinteractive comparative display 10 additionally is presenting aplurality of article indicators 16 a each representing an articlereporting on or otherwise covering the news event represented by theselected event indicator 14 a. In the example embodiment of FIG. 5, theinteractive comparative display 10 is included in a web page presentedto users through their browser clients (e.g., web browsers). In suchembodiments, by clicking on the article indicators 16 a, users areenabled to follow links embedded in the article indicators 16 a andthereby navigate their browser clients (e.g., web browsers) to URLs inthe embedded links whereat web pages hosting the online publishedarticles are located.

As depicted in FIG. 5, the category associated with the news track 12 ais “U.S. Deficit,” as presented by a category indicator 13. The eventindicators 14 a thus represent news events pertaining to the U.S.deficit, including “‘Super Committee’ Announcement,” “S&P Down-gradepresses ‘committee,’ “Health Interests make cases to SC,” Super Fail,”and “Deficit Projections announced.” Each of the event indicators 14 aof FIG. 5 represents a different event pertaining to the U.S. deficit.In the screen shot presented in FIG. 5, the plurality of articleindicators 16 a represent articles about the event indicator 14 arepresenting the event “Super Fail,” which is selected. In illustrativeembodiments of the present invention, each article indicator 16 apresented in the interactive comparative display 10 for a given eventindicator 14 a is published by a different news sources. Stateddifferently, in illustrative embodiments of the interactive comparativedisplay 10, there is not overlap between associated news sources amongthe presented article indicators 16 a for a given event indicator 14 a.In this manner, the article indicators 16 a can present a plurality ofdifferent vantage points of various news sources on individual events.This can provide users of the interactive comparative display 10 with aunique browsing experience enabling them to compare and more easilyidentify editorial, political, and other bias between different newssources. Furthermore, this enables users to more quickly and readilyaccess multiple vantage points and different points of view on a singlenews event, thereby allowing users to become more informed andenlightened consumers of news.

Optionally, an editorial descriptor 28 (e.g., “Committee declaresdefeat” for the selected event indicator 16 a “Super Fail” of FIG. 5)can be presented in the interactive comparative display 10 inconjunction with (e.g., situated atop of, as depicted in FIG. 5) theselected event indicator 14 a. Furthermore, the article indicators 16 acan include news source identifiers 30 indicating the news sources thatpublished the articles and title identifiers 32 indicating the title ofthe articles. In illustrative embodiments, the news track 12 a forms atime scale (e.g., a timeline), and the event indicators 14 a are placedat positions along the news track 12 a indicating a particular time(e.g., date) or a chronological order of events represented thereby.Optionally, each event indicator 14 a can include a time (e.g., date,month, etc.) indicator (not shown) presenting a particular dateassociated with that event indicator 14 a.

In some embodiments, the interactive comparative display 10 additionallyincludes and presents a prediction tool enabling users to trackpredictions that were made and subsequently verified or disproved. Forexample, as depicted in FIG. 5, the interactive comparative display caninclude one or more prediction buttons 34 each presented in conjunctionwith a particular event indicator 14 a. Each prediction button 34indicates that the particular news event represented by the associatedevent indicator 14 a was a part of a prediction, either as theconclusion (e.g., realization or disproof) of the prediction or theinitial proposal/making of the prediction. By clicking the predictionbutton 34, the interactive comparative display 10 is caused to the“other end” of the prediction. For example, when the prediction button34 is situated on a event indicator 14 a to represent that the eventindicator 14 a (e.g., event indicator) is the conclusion of a predictionthat was made, clicking the prediction button 34 can cause theinteractive comparative display 10 to present (e.g., in a pop-up window)one or more earlier event indicators 14 a and/or one or more earlierarticle indicators 16 a representing the initial proposal/making of theprediction.

EXAMPLE 2

Another example embodiment of the interactive comparative display 10according to the present invention will now be described with referenceto FIG. 6. In this second example, the interactive comparative display10 is adapted to present users with travel information. The subjectindicators 14 include, e.g., a flight grouping indicator 14 b, a rentalcar grouping indicator 14 c, and a hotel room grouping indicator 14 d.In the example embodiment of FIG. 6, the grouping indicators 14 b, 14 c,14 d each is visually presented in the interactive comparative display10 as a highlighted portion of the scale formed by the travel track 12b. In the example embodiment of FIG. 6, the travel track 16 b forms atime scale presenting times by the hour. The grouping indicators 14 b,14 c, and 14 d can be added and removed manually by users, e.g., byclicking corresponding add/remove buttons (e.g., “Add flight” button,“Remove flight” button, etc.). Furthermore, the grouping indicators 14b, 14 c, 14 d can be moved manually by users to different positionsalong the travel track 12 b. In this manner, users can browse aplurality of different groupings of available flights (e.g.,grouped/arranged by departure time, arrival time, etc.), groupings ofavailable rental cars (e.g., by start time of reservation), and/orgroupings of available hotel rooms (e.g., by check-in time).

In the example embodiment of FIG. 6, the result indicators 16 presentedin the interactive comparative display 10 can include specific flightlistings in the travel track 16 b, specific rental car and/or agencylistings 16 c, and specific hotel and/or room listings 16 d. Theinteractive comparative display 10 can be configured to present as thelistings 16 b, 16 c, 16 d only those that fall within the specific timeinterval on the time scale at which the grouping indicator 14 b, 14 c,14 d is positioned. In illustrative embodiments, the interactivecomparative display 10 (and the computing system implementing theinteractive comparative display 10) is configured to avoid presentingscheduling contradictions or conflicts between the differentreservations being made (e.g., flight, rental car, hotel, etc.). Forexample, when a user moves one of the three grouping indicators 14 b, 14c, 14 d, the interactive comparative display 10 can automatically adjustthe position of the some or all of the other grouping indicators 14 b,14 c, 14 d on the travel track 12 b to avoid, e.g., presenting rentalcar and/or agency listings 16 c that begin prior to the arrival of theflight listings 16 b currently being presented.

Notably, the example embodiments of the present invention describedherein can enable numerous benefits and advantages. For example, theinteractive comparative display 10 can present a wide range of types ofinformation content in an easily accessible, well-organized fashion thatallows users to access and comprehend comparisons of information.Furthermore, the interactive comparative display 10 can allow users tobecome more informed and knowledge consumers of information bypresenting comparisons of such information that have not been previouslyaccessible. As just illustrative example, in some embodiments adaptedfor presentation of news information, users can be enabled to moreclearly identify and thus recognize the presence of editorial,political, etc. bias in news sources. Furthermore, by providing userswith the interactive comparative display 10, users are enabled to engagein more types of exploration and browsing of information content than ispresently possible. Enhancing the ways that users browse can allow moregranulated/specific tracking of users browsing habits and tendencies.Accordingly, one or more tools can be provided that enable moreeffective targeted advertising, or the like.

As yet further potential benefits, the interactive comparative display10 can include a transaction or payment module 36 (see FIG. 1) thatappears in conjunction with the result indicators 16 and/or the subjectindicators 14. For example, the transaction or payment module 36 can bevisually situated in the interactive comparative display 10 within thecircular arrangement of result indicators 16, with a clickable icon orother graphical element as would be readily appreciated by those ofskill in the art. The transaction or payment module 36 can allow usersto “take action,” e.g., in the form of monetary action like donating,paying for particular services being offered relating to a particularresult indicator 16 and/or subject indicator 14, signing up for a newssubscription, paying for a travel expense (e.g., flight, rental car,hotel room, etc.), linking to website that is organized to address aparticular issue related to the content information of the resultindicator 16, linking to a shopping website or retailer to enable theuser to purchase a item, and the like. All of the “take action” linkscan be topically related to the information content of the particularresult indicator 16 in which the transaction or payment module 36appears. This can enable the interactive comparative display 10 to serveas a platform for enabling, e.g., third-party transactions/payments,actions, and the like. The benefits of such transaction/payment hostsare well understood in the art. One of skill in the art will appreciateyet other benefits not specifically described herein upon reading thepresent specification.

It should be appreciated that the type or format of information contentbeing represented by the result indicators 16 is not limited. Theinteractive comparative display 10 according to the present inventioncan be implemented to present and represent any digital informationcontent in any suitable format, e.g., in one or more of audio format,video format, image format, textual format, and any other digital formator format accessible by a computing device. The result indicators 16thus can represent (e.g., and provide links to) video files, imagefiles, audio files, text files, document files, any other digital files,and combinations thereof. In illustrative embodiments of the presentinvention, the interactive comparative display 10 is hosted on a websiteand presented to users in one or more web pages of the website.Accordingly, the result indicators 16 can include links to other webpages (e.g., provided by other websites) that host the online digitalcontent (e.g., video, image, audio, text, etc.) being represented by theresult indicators 16. Alternatively or additionally, a user selecting aresult indicator 16 can cause the requested information to appear and bepresented on the interactive comparative display 10. For example, theresult indicators 16 can include movie indicators or television showindicators each representing a movie or television show that can bestreamed to the user on the interactive comparative display 10. As yetanother example, the result indicators 16 can include game indicatorsthat, when selected by a user, cause a game to be hosted within theinteractive comparative display 10 enabling the user to play theselected/requested game.

In general, any suitable computing device can implement the interactivecomparative display 10 and the associated methods and functionalitydescribed herein, as will be readily appreciated by those of skill inthe art. For example, the computing device can include one or moreserver devices, e.g., logically coupled and in communication with one ormore client computing devices. Accordingly, the methods andfunctionality described herein generally can be implemented asexecutable instructions contained in one or more non-transitory computerreadable storage devices included in the computing device, one or moreinput devices, one or more output devices, etc., as would be appreciatedby one of skill in the art. The interactive comparative display 10 canbe presented on one or more output devices (e.g., one or morepresentation components), as will be appreciated by one of skill in theart upon reading the present specification.

For example, FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a computing device 500for implementing illustrative methods and systems of the presentinvention. The computing device 500 is merely an illustrative example ofa suitable computing environment and in no way limits the scope of thepresent invention. A “computing device,” as represented by FIG. 7, caninclude a “workstation,” a “server,” a “laptop,” a “desktop,” a“hand-held device,” a “mobile device,” a “tablet computer,” or othercomputing devices, as would be understood by those of skill in the art.Given that the computing device 500 is depicted for illustrativepurposes, embodiments of the present invention may utilize any number ofcomputing devices 500 in any number of different ways to implement asingle embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments ofthe present invention are not limited to a single computing device 500,as would be appreciated by one with skill in the art, nor are theylimited to a single type of implementation or configuration of theexample computing device 500.

The computing device 500 can include a bus 510 that can be coupled toone or more of the following illustrative components, directly orindirectly: a memory 512, one or more processors 514, one or morepresentation components 516, input/output ports 518, input/outputcomponents 520, and a power supply 524. One of skill in the art willappreciate that the bus 510 can include one or more busses, such as anaddress bus, a data bus, or any combination thereof. One of skill in theart additionally will appreciate that, depending on the intendedapplications and uses of a particular embodiment, multiple of thesecomponents can be implemented by a single device. Similarly, in someinstances, a single component can be implemented by multiple devices. Assuch, FIG. 7 is merely illustrative of an exemplary computing devicethat can be used to implement one or more embodiments of the presentinvention, and in no way limits the invention.

The computing device 500 can include or interact with a variety ofcomputer-readable media. For example, computer-readable media caninclude Random Access Memory (RAM); Read Only Memory (ROM);Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM); flashmemory or other memory technologies; CDROM, digital versatile disks(DVD) or other optical or holographic media; magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesthat can be used to encode information and can be accessed by thecomputing device 500.

The memory 512 can include computer-storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory. The memory 512 may be removable,non-removable, or any combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devicesare devices such as hard drives, solid-state memory, optical-discdrives, and the like. The computing device 500 can include one or moreprocessors that read data from components such as the memory 512, thevarious I/O components 520, etc. Presentation component(s) 516 presentdata indications to a user or other device. Exemplary presentationcomponents include a display device, speaker, printing component,vibrating component, etc.

The I/O ports 518 can allow the computing device 500 to be logicallycoupled to other devices, such as I/O components 520. Some of the I/Ocomponents 520 can be built into the computing device 500. Examples ofsuch I/O components 520 include a microphone, joystick, recordingdevice, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device,networking device, and the like.

In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the interactivecomparative display 10 is presented to users on computing devices 500configured as user devices (e.g., client devices). In such illustrativeembodiments, the interactive comparative display 10 is included in oneor more web pages hosted by one or more computing devices 500 that areconfigured as web servers and coupled to the user devices via acommunications network (e.g., the Internet, or any other suitablecommunications network). Accordingly, in some such embodiments where thesome or all of the functionality of the interactive comparative display10 is hosted remotely from the user devices, some or all of thefunctionality of the interactive comparative display 10 provided by theweb servers can be distributed across (e.g., outsourced to) one or moreremote/cloud database(s) and/or other remote/cloud computing componentsor apparatuses, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art.However, the specific software and/or hardware implementations can beselected depending on the particular intended applications and usages.All such alternative implementations are contemplated within the scopeof the present invention.

Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of theforegoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construedas illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details ofthe structure may vary substantially without departing from the spiritof the present invention, and exclusive use of all modifications thatcome within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. Within thisspecification embodiments have been described in a way which enables aclear and concise specification to be written, but it is intended andwill be appreciated that embodiments may be variously combined orseparated without parting from the invention. It is intended that thepresent invention be limited only to the extent required by the appendedclaims and the applicable rules of law.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover allgeneric and specific features of the invention described herein, and allstatements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language,might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented interactive comparativedisplay system, the system comprising: a processor; an interactivecomparative display of information for display on a display device; afirst plurality of subject indicators displayed by the comparativedisplay of information and all associated with a first category ofsubject matter, the first plurality of subject indicators comprising: aselected subject indicator displayed by the comparative display ofinformation and representing a first subject associated with the firstcategory of subject matter; at least one selectable subject indicatordisplayed by the comparative display of information and representing atleast a second subject associated with the first category of subjectmatter; a first selectable result indicator displayed by the comparativedisplay of information and representing information content that istopically associated with the first subject; at least a secondselectable result indicator displayed by the comparative display ofinformation and representing information content that differs from theinformation content represented by the first selectable result indicatorand is also topically associated with the first subject; display by thecomparative display of information of the first selectable resultindicator and the second selectable result indicator causestransformation of the first selectable result indicator and the secondselectable result indicator into the comparative display of information,which is arranged in a visually comparative configuration of theinformation content represented by the first selectable result indicatorand the information content represented by the second selectable resultindicator; wherein a selectable related category indicator is displayedby the comparative display of information in conjunction with theselected subject indicator, the selectable related category indicatorrepresenting a second plurality of subject indicators all associatedwith a second category of subject matter; and wherein selection of theselectable related category indicator further transforms the comparativedisplay of information into a visually comparative display ofinformation represented by display of the second plurality of subjectindicators arranged in a comparative configuration of the informationcontent represented by each subject indicator of the second plurality ofsubject indicators.
 2. The computer implemented interactive comparativedisplay system of claim 1, wherein the information content representedby the first selectable result indicator is comparable with theinformation content represented by the second selectable resultindicator when the information content represented by the firstselectable result indicator is of a same type of information content butfrom a different perspective from the information content represented bythe second selectable result indicator.
 3. The computer implementedinteractive comparative display system of claim 1, wherein theinformation content represented by the first selectable result indicatoris comparable with the information content represented by the secondselectable result indicator when the information content represented bythe first selectable result indicator is of a same type of informationcontent but from a different vantage point than the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator.
 4. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, whereinthe information content represented by the first selectable resultindicator is comparable with the information content represented by thesecond selectable result indicator when the information contentrepresented by the first selectable result indicator is of a same typeof information content but is an alternative to the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator.
 5. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, furthercomprising more than two selectable result indicators each representinginformation content that is comparable with the information content ofeach of the other selectable result indicators.
 6. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, whereinthe information content represented by the first selectable resultindicator originates from a different source than the informationcontent represented by the second selectable result indicator.
 7. Thecomputer implemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1,wherein the information content represented by the first selectableresult indicator originates from a different source than the informationcontent represented by the second selectable result indicator, andwherein each source is affiliated with a perspective of a range ofperspectives sortable along a spectrum of a topical continuum for atopic.
 8. The computer implemented interactive comparative displaysystem of claim 7, further wherein the information content representedby the first selectable result indicator has an affiliated perspectivefalling within a predetermined first portion of the spectrum and ispositioned in a first portion in the display, and the second selectableresult indicator has an affiliated perspective falling within apredetermined second non-overlapping portion of the spectrum and ispositioned in a second non-overlapping portion in the display.
 9. Thecomputer implemented interactive comparative display system of claim 8,further wherein the first and second selectable result indicators arepositioned in an order in the display, and wherein the order is the sameas an order of affiliated perspectives of sources of the first andsecond selectable result indicators along the spectrum.
 10. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 8, whereinthere are a plurality of selectable result indicators in addition to thefirst and second selectable result indicators, each representinginformation content, and those selectable result indicators havingaffiliated perspectives of the range of perspectives grouped together ina predetermined portion of the spectrum are displayed proximal eachother in the display, while those selectable result indicators havingaffiliated perspectives of the range of perspectives not groupedtogether in a predetermined common portion of the spectrum are displayeddistal each other.
 11. The computer implemented interactive comparativedisplay system of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of selectableresult indicators in addition to the first and second selectable resultindicators, each representing information content, and the displayfurther comprises one or more user input tools for enabling users tosubmit input about one or more of the plurality of selectable resultindicators.
 12. The computer implemented interactive comparative displaysystem of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of selectable resultindicators in addition to the first and second selectable resultindicators, each representing information content, and the displayfurther comprises one or more user input tools for enabling users tosubmit input about one or more of the plurality of selectable resultindicators, wherein a position of at least one of the plurality ofselectable result indicators is determined at least partially based onreceived user input.
 13. The computer implemented interactivecomparative display system of claim 12, wherein an affiliatedperspective of the users is based at least in part on one or more of auser profile, a user tag, and user metadata.
 14. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 12, whereinthe received user input comprises one or more of user rankings, userratings, user assigned weights, or user comments.
 15. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more user input indicators each presenting inputsubmitted by a user about a selectable result indicator of the firstselectable result indicator and the at least a second selectable resultindicator.
 16. The computer implemented interactive comparative displaysystem of claim 1, further comprising a first user comment submitted bya first user about the first selectable result indicator, the first userbeing affiliated with a first perspective of a plurality of perspectivesthat lie in a predetermined portion of a spectrum also containing anaffiliated perspective of the first selectable result indicator, andwherein the first user comment has a position in the display that isdetermined at least partially based on user input associated with thefirst user comment, and further wherein any user input that is used todetermine the position of the first user comment comprises user inputreceived from one or more users affiliated with a perspective of a rangeof perspectives lying within a predetermined portion of a spectrum. 17.The computer implemented interactive comparative display system of claim1, wherein selection of the selectable related category indicator causesthe second plurality of subject indicators to replace the firstplurality of subject indicators in the display.
 18. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, whereinthe first plurality of subject indicators, the first selectable resultindicator, and the selectable related category indicator are allpresented in a single display.
 19. The computer implemented interactivecomparative display system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality ofsubject indicators comprise one or more of event indicators, travelinformation indicators, hotel information indicators, recipe indicators,food indicators, movie indicators, or sports indicators.
 20. Thecomputer implemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1,wherein the first selectable result indicator and the at least a secondselectable result indicator comprise a link pointing to a networklocation holding the corresponding content information.
 21. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, whereineach of the first plurality of subject indicators are displayed as agraphically rotatably selectable dial.
 22. The computer implementedinteractive comparative display system of claim 1, wherein theinformation content of the first selectable result indicator and theinformation content of the at least a second selectable result indicatorare associated with tags.
 23. The computer implemented interactivecomparative display system of claim 1, wherein the display furthercomprises social media tools.
 24. The computer implemented interactivecomparative display system of claim 23, wherein the social media toolscomprise one or more of comments, ratings, rankings, likes, dislikes,chat, messaging, voting buttons, or polling buttons.
 25. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, furthercomprising a payment module or a transaction module.
 26. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more prediction buttons each presented in conjunctionwith the first selectable result indicator, the at least a secondselectable result indicator, or a combination thereof.
 27. The computerimplemented interactive comparative display system of claim 1, whereinthe first plurality of subject indicators are arranged in a stringconfiguration.
 28. A computer implemented method for displaying aninteractive comparative display of information on a display device, themethod comprising: displaying a first plurality of subject indicatorsdisplayed by the comparative display of information and all associatedwith a first category of subject matter, the first plurality of subjectindicators comprising: a selected subject indicator displayed by thecomparative display of information and representing a first subjectassociated with the first category of subject matter, the selectedsubject indicator being in a state of being selected by a user; at leastone selectable subject indicator displayed by the comparative display ofinformation and representing at least a second subject associated withthe first category of subject matter, the selectable subject indicatorbeing in a state of not being selected by a user; displaying a firstselectable result indicator displayed by the comparative display ofinformation and representing information content that is topicallyassociated with the first subject, the first selectable result indicatorbeing in a state of not being selected by a user; displaying at least asecond selectable result indicator displayed by the comparative displayof information and representing information content that is differentfrom the information content represented by the first selectable resultindicator and is also topically associated with the first subject;wherein display by the comparative display of information of the firstselectable result indicator and the second selectable result indicatortransforms the first selectable result indicator and the secondselectable result indicator collectively into the comparative display ofinformation prior to selection by a user; and wherein selection by auser of a selectable related category indicator displayed by thecomparative display of information in conjunction with the selectedsubject indicator further transforms the comparative display ofinformation into a comparative display of information represented bydisplay of a second plurality of subject indicators arranged in avisually comparative configuration of the information contentrepresented by each subject indicator of the second plurality of subjectindicators.
 29. The computer implemented method according to claim 28,wherein the information content represented by the first selectableresult indicator is comparable with the information content representedby the second selectable result indicator when the information contentrepresented by the first selectable result indicator is of a same typeof information content but from a different perspective from theinformation content represented by the second selectable resultindicator.
 30. The computer implemented method according to claim 28,wherein the information content represented by the first selectableresult indicator is comparable with the information content representedby the second selectable result indicator when the information contentrepresented by the first selectable result indicator is of a same typeof information content but from a different vantage point than theinformation content represented by the second selectable resultindicator.
 31. The computer implemented method according to claim 28,wherein the information content represented by the first selectableresult indicator is comparable with the information content representedby the second selectable result indicator when the information contentrepresented by the first selectable result indicator is of a same typeof information content but is an alternative to the information contentrepresented by the second selectable result indicator.
 32. The computerimplemented method according to claim 28, further comprising more thantwo selectable result indicators each representing information contentthat is comparable with the information content of each of the otherselectable result indicators.
 33. The computer implemented methodaccording to claim 28, wherein the information content represented bythe first selectable result indicator originates from a different sourcethan the information content represented by the second selectable resultindicator.
 34. The computer implemented method according to claim 28,wherein the information content represented by the first selectableresult indicator originates from a different source than the informationcontent represented by the second selectable result indicator, andwherein each source is affiliated with a perspective of a range ofperspectives sortable along a spectrum of a topical continuum for atopic.
 35. The computer implemented according to claim 28, wherein thecomparative display further comprises one or more user input tools forenabling users to submit input about one or more of the plurality ofselectable result indicators.
 36. The computer implemented methodaccording to claim 28, wherein there are a plurality of selectableresult indicators in addition to the first and second selectable resultindicators, each representing information content, and the displayfurther comprises one or more user input tools for enabling users tosubmit input about one or more of the plurality of selectable resultindicators, wherein a position of at least one of the plurality ofselectable result indicators is determined at least partially based onreceived user input.
 37. The computer implemented method according toclaim 28, further comprising one or more user input indicators eachpresenting input submitted by a user about a selectable result indicatorof the first selectable result indicator and the at least a secondselectable result indicator.
 38. The computer implemented methodaccording to claim 28, wherein selection of the related categoryindicator causes display of the second plurality of subject indicators.39. The computer implemented method according to claim 28, whereinselection of the related category indicator causes the second pluralityof subject indicators to replace the first plurality of subjectindicators in the display.
 40. The computer implemented method accordingto claim 28, wherein the first plurality of subject indicators, thefirst selectable result indicator, and the related category indicatorare all presented in a single display.
 41. The computer implementedmethod according to claim 28, wherein the display further comprisessocial media tools.
 42. The computer implemented method according toclaim 28, in which the first plurality of subject indicators, selectedsubject indicator, at least one selectable subject indicator, firstselectable result indicator, and at least a second selectable resultindicator are all displayed simultaneously in the same display.
 43. Thecomputer implemented method according to claim 28, wherein theinformation content of the first selectable result indicator and theinformation content of the at least a second selectable result indicatorare associated with tags and the tags are used to position the firstplurality of selectable result indicators and the second plurality ofselectable result indicators relative to each other in the visuallycomparative configuration.